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2.2 Freefall

A freely falling body is one that moves vertically under the influence of gravity alone, with no other external forces acting upon it. Gravity continually accelerates such bodies as they fall, increasing their downward velocity by 9.81 m/s every second. The longer an object falls, the greater its velocity becomes due to this constant acceleration. All bodies fall at the same rate when air resistance is neglected, with their acceleration due to gravity equaling approximately 9.81 m/s2 on Earth and 1.60 m/s2 on the Moon.

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28 views

2.2 Freefall

A freely falling body is one that moves vertically under the influence of gravity alone, with no other external forces acting upon it. Gravity continually accelerates such bodies as they fall, increasing their downward velocity by 9.81 m/s every second. The longer an object falls, the greater its velocity becomes due to this constant acceleration. All bodies fall at the same rate when air resistance is neglected, with their acceleration due to gravity equaling approximately 9.81 m/s2 on Earth and 1.60 m/s2 on the Moon.

Uploaded by

Arjay Antonio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FREE FALL 14

A freely falling body is one that moves vertically in air under the action of its
weight alone. Air resistance is neglected and there is no external additional factor that
is causing the body to move except gravity.

When an object is raised and released, it falls faster and faster because gravity
is continually pulling it down. Such object, called a freely falling body, is not affected
by any other force except gravity. Its downward speed increases by 9.81 after each
second. The longer the time of fall the greater the velocity. Disregarding air friction,
all bodies fall with constant acceleration if the distance of fall is not too great.

The increasing speed of a freely falling body is called acceleration due to gravity
and is equal to 𝑔=9.81 . On the moon, 𝑔=1.60 .

The specific equations for free fall are the following (based from Basic equations
of UARM:
15
Sign convention:
 Y is positive (+) if measured above the starting point. It is negative (-) if
measured
below the starting point.
 Vi and Vf are positive (+) if directed upward, negative (-) if directed
downward.
 Time t is always positive (+).
 g is always negative (-): (g=-9.8 ; -32.174 )

Exercise Problems:

1. A stone dropped from a bridge strikes the water 2.5 𝑠 later.


a.What is its final velocity in m/s?
b.How high is the bridge?

2. A ball is thrown vertically downward with a velocity of 12 𝑚/𝑠.


a.How far has the ball fallen in 1 𝑠?
b.2 𝑠 later?

3. A ball is dropped from a window 64 𝑓𝑡 above the ground.


a.How long does it take the ball to reach the ground?
b.What is its final velocity?

4. A ball is thrown downward with an initial velocity of 20 𝑓𝑡/𝑠.


a.How fast is it moving 2 𝑠 later?
b.How far does it fall in these 2 s?

5. The acceleration of gravity on the surface of Mars is 3.7 𝑚/𝑠2. If a ball is thrown
vertically downward at 10 𝑚/𝑠 from a cliff of Mars, what will its speed be after 1 𝑠?
After 3 𝑠?

6. A stone is thrown vertically downward with a velocity of 5 m/s from a window 50


meters above ground level.
(a) How much time will it take to travel to the ground?
(b) With what velocity will it strike the ground?
(c) How far did it fall in 2?

7. A ball is thrown vertically upward from the roof of a building. It just misses the roof
on its way down and passes a point 30 m below its starting point 5 s after it leaves
the thrower’s hand. Air resistance may be ignored.
(a) What is the initial speed of the ball?
(b) How high does it rise above its starting point?
(c) What is its velocity 5 s after it leaves the thrower’s hand?

8. At what velocity must an object be thrown vertically up to reach its maximum


height in 2.5 seconds? How high is the peak from the starting point?

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